#6 Finn

 Literacy with Attitude 

Something about this reading that stood out to me was how the people in power are comfortable with the way things are and do not want to break the status quo. While my connection is fictional, I believe that the movie High School Musical has a connection here. There is a song called "Stick to the Status Quo" which depicts how certain students feel trapped in the roles that they are in and that they cannot branch out. For example, a basketball athlete feels like he cannot share his love for baking with others because it would disrupt the way that things are. However, a character named Troy Bolton, decides to break through and be basketball player as well as singing in the school musical. 

This relates to the reading because of Finn mentioning the status quo.

"The status quo is the status quo because people who have the power to make changes are comfortable with the way things are. It takes energy to make changes, and the energy must come from the people who will benefit from the change" (Preface). 

In Chapter 2, Finn mentions how "their [students in working class schools] capacity for creativity and planning was ignored or denied" (12). Students are told not to rock the boat or cause any waves, this leads them to focus on following commands and not questioning authority. This then leads to students graduating into blue collar jobs and unable to move up in socioeconomic status. Finn draws the connection between education and class. The way that the education system is currently set up means that students coming from a working class family will likely stay a working class family. 

If change is going to occur, there needs to be a break in the status quo both by the students and teachers who have power in the affluent school districts as well as by the students and educators who are in the less affluent school districts. 

https://sunypress.edu/Books/L/Literacy-with-an-Attitude2 

"A passionate plea for teachers, parents, and community organizers to give working-class children the same type of empowering education and powerful literacy skills that the children of upper- and middle-class people receive. Strategies for reaching and teaching these children are presented" (Suny Press). 

The bolded portion of the quote reminds me of Delpit and how the codes of power need to be explicitly told to those without power so they can have power. Students need to be given autonomy and choice in their education to learn for themselves but they cannot do this without being given the tools and education to help them succeed. By having powerful literacy skills and feeling empowered in their education, students can grow from where they are and go further than the place they started in.